Dear Colleague

Our names are Prof Nazir Carrim and Dr Tanya Bekker and we are lecturers in the School of Education at the University of the Witwatersrand. We are currently conducting research on online teaching and learning and epistemological access during COVID 19 pandemic conditions. The COVID19 pandemic is difficult on all of us and it has had a profound and serious impact on education.

Many institutions have moved their courses online, and our research project aims to investigate how academic staff feel and think about whether going online has assisted or frustrated epistemological access. Our research focuses on education lecturers’ experiences of online learning and teaching and epistemological access. 

We would greatly appreciate it if you would spend a few minutes by answering a few questions. If you agree to do so, please click on the link here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XSHJNYS and it will take you to a survey with the questions. It will take you no more than 5 minutes to answer the questions. Your response to the survey will indicate your consent to participate in this research.

There will be no personal cost or risk to you if you participate in this project. You are assured that participation is voluntary and you are free to withdraw from the study at any stage without prejudice. You will not receive any direct benefits from participation and there are no disadvantages or penalties if you do not choose to participate. Given that the survey will be filled in online and responses automatically captured online, your identity will be protected, and confidentiality is assured. No names of persons or institutions will be used during this research project and in any of the publications that may emanate from it. All research data will be kept in password protected folders on the researchers’ password protected personal computers and will be stored for ongoing research for the duration of the project.

We thank you for your time, kindness, and cooperation.

Please take care, stay safe and stay well.

The following people may be contacted if you require any further information:

Prof Nazir Carrim – nazir.carrim@wits.ac.za.

Dr Tanya Bekker – tanya.bekker@wits.ac.za.

If you have any queries, concerns or complaints regarding the ethical procedures of this study, you are welcome to contact the University Human Research Ethics Committee (Non-Medical), telephone +27(0) 11 717 1408, email hrecnon-medical@wits.ac.za Ethical Clearance no. H20/11/04

Regards,

Prof Nazir Carrim and Dr Tanya Bekker
Wits School of Education